Thursday, November 7, 2013

Feeling Good Is Free


                                        Feeling Good Is Free


There is no charge for feeling good, so why not take advantage of this blue plate special as often as possible?

If attitude is truly the key to happiness as some experts suggest then I say get that attitude cranked up as high as it will go. Attitude often determines our state of being. Thus a positive attitude should, in turn, render us feeling more upbeat.

How often do we take time to place ourselves amidst the people and activities that raise our feeling state? Scratch that; how often do we even take a moment to think about the things that make us feel good?

I’ll give you a hint about feeling good. It seldom occurs when we are caught in a web of negative thinking.  Most of us get trapped in it at various times. You know, thoughts of blame, regret, guilt, self doubt. Some of us do it way too often and can’t find the way out from under it.

Good luck trying to create a positive attitude when these negative thoughts take over!

What can you do when you find yourself trapped in negative thinking?
·      The first key is awareness, always awareness. You have to know when you are mired in negative muck.
·      It is helpful to have a plan once this awareness arrives. It is important to find your way into objective thinking and positive action. We are seldom objective when we are trapped in negativity.
·      Know what works for you. It might be a chat with a supportive family member or loved one. Time spent dining and laughing with friends, a walk with your pooch or immersion in a favorite hobby or book, sitting by a creek listening to the flow of the water and feeling the warmth of the sun beaming down upon you, a ride on a roller coaster, a weekend excursion to a favorite haunt whistling a happy tune (not Mozart’s Requiem) always lifts my spirits.  
·      Perhaps getting physically active. Do something that is fun and energizing; unless, that involves a shopping spree resulting in the purchase of a Ferrari and you are still struggling to pay off your Ford Fiesta.  

How we feel is often a choice and will be determined by our mindset and our actions.

The cost for feeling good is a bargain compared to the price we pay when we sit with an unhappy or angry attitude for too long. 

Commit to smiling everyday. If nothing else you will help the folks around you to feel better.